Language, Literature and Ideas in the Ancient Irish Abecedarius “Altus Prosator”

Authors:

Pages: 91-100
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/QYID6359

Abstract:

The Latin Christian literature in Ireland is a specific linguistic, literary and theological area. One of the works of this type of literature is “Altus Prosator” whose author is unknown, probably St. Columba of Iona († 610). In this article, the linguistic specifics, literary characteristics and theological ideas in the ancient Christian hymn are discussed. Linguistically, it stands out because of the presence of foreign loans and some unusual forms. From a literary point of view, it is an abecedarius (an alphabetical poem) without steps, but with rhyme. In a theological perspective, the poem is a kind of а confession of faith, а poetic history of salvation and a paraphrase of the biblical book “Apocalypsis”. All these circumstances make “Altus Prosator” the most valuable work of Ancient Irish Christian literature.

Keywords:

Latin literature; Christian poetry; Irish monasticism; Christianity; theology

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